“A little bit, yes,” said O’Shea when asked whether the players had grown used to the changes in manager.

“It’s one of those things – obviously, what you want is stability, and that’s what the club is craving at the moment.

“But the new gaffer has signed a four-year deal so we are all hoping that now we will get that stability.

“Ultimately, though, we are still in the Premier League which is the key thing, but we want to get away from just surviving every year.”

Tonight’s pre-season friendly against Borussia Dortmund, at the Cashpoint Arena, in Altach, Austria, (kick-off 5.45pm UK time) is the final match of pre-season.

Sunderland’s Premier League campaign starts with a daunting trip to the Etihad Stadium on August 13, the first top flight game of Pep Guardiola’s City reign.

Club captain O’Shea is under no illusions as to the task facing Moyes’ side but says a good start is key.

It took until October 25 to secure the first league win last season, the 3-0 derby victory over Newcastle United.

“We’ve left ourselves so much to do by starting badly in the last few seasons,” added O’Shea.

“We have been able to do it, but we’ve made it very hard for ourselves.

“It would be a much more enjoyable season if we could get points on the board early, and we were talking about trying to finish in the top half of the table rather than getting away from the bottom three.”